PARTICIPATORY IRRIGATION MANAGEMENT IN KIRINDI OYA IRRIGATION AND SETTLEMENT PROJECT

The Kirindi Oya Irrigation and Settlement Project (KOISP) located in the southeast quadrant of Sri Lanka was completed in 1986 and during the same year, water issues commenced. The KOISP consists the old Ellegala Irrigation System (EIS) Project area (4,090 ha) and New Irrigation System (NIS) area (5,340 ha). Water management in this project is performed in four levels: main canal handled by the Irrigation Department (ID), secondary canal by Distributary Channel Organization (DCO), tertiary canals by Farmer Organizations (FOs) and field level canals by individual farmers. Up to 1990, the old EIS and the NIS were managed as two separate entities. During 1990, these were formed into a single Project Management Committee (PMC) and the ID with the assistance of IWMI prepared the seasonal operational plans for both seasons with much consultation and communication between and among the stakeholders. The drainage flow to the sea from the EIS and NIS has reduced considerably due to this water management practice. The successful completion of 1999 yala cultivation was due to the participatory irrigation management system offered by the officers, DCO leaders and FO representatives. Due to high participation of the EIS the farmers got less number of dry days and they reported that more than 71% adequate water delivery was available in all crop growing stages. Further they obtained high yields ranging from 3.9 to 7.7 ton/ha. The farmers in the RB of NIS reported 24% and 10% adequate water supply in booting stage and flowering stage respectively and they obtained less yields ranging from 0.6 to 3.2 ton/ha.